Shloka 19
राज्ञोऽभिषेकः, अराजकदोषः, दण्डधारणस्य आवश्यकता
Royal Consecration, the Fault of Kinglessness, and the Necessity of Enforcement
सर्वभूतेष्वनुक्रोशं कुर्वतस्तस्य भारत । आनुृशंस्यप्रवृत्तस्य सर्वावस्थं पदं भवेत्,भरतनन्दन! जो समस्त प्राणियोंपर दया करता है और क्रूरतारहित कर्मामें ही प्रवृत्त होता है, उसे सभी आश्रमोंके सेवनका फल प्राप्त होता है
sarvabhūteṣv anukrośaṃ kurvatas tasya bhārata | ānṛśaṃsya-pravṛttasya sarvāvasthaṃ padaṃ bhavet ||
भीष्म म्हणाले—हे भरतनंदना! जो सर्व प्राण्यांवर करुणा करतो आणि क्रौर्यरहित कर्मातच प्रवृत्त राहतो, त्याला अशी सिद्धी प्राप्त होते जी सर्व अवस्थांत मान्य—जणू सर्व आश्रमांचे फलच त्याने मिळविले आहे।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Universal compassion and a commitment to non-cruel conduct are presented as a dharmic essence so powerful that they yield the same spiritual merit as fulfilling the duties of all four āśramas; ethical disposition is treated as the unifying heart of dharma.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma after the war; here he emphasizes that kindness to all beings and freedom from cruelty constitute a universally valid path, not limited by one’s life-stage or social condition.